Robert Thomson to deliver 2019 Keith Murdoch Oration at State Library Victoria

The Chief Executive of News Corporation, Robert Thomson, will deliver the 2019 Keith Murdoch Oration at State Library Victoria on Tuesday 16 April. 

The Australian-born, US-based chief executive of global media powerhouse News Corporation will deliver an oration titled Truth, Trust and Tech at State Library Victoria’s major biennial fundraising event. 

Born in Torrumbarry, near Echuca, Mr Thomson began his career in 1979 as a copyboy at The Herald in Melbourne, before working at The Sydney Morning Herald, the Financial Times, The Times of London, and The Wall Street Journal. A published author, he assumed his current role as chief executive of News Corporation in 2013.

The Keith Murdoch Oration was established in 2001 to honour the life and work of Sir Keith Murdoch and the contribution he and his family have made to State Library Victoria. The oration raises funds to support the ongoing work of the Library. 

Since 2001, the Keith Murdoch Oration has been delivered by: 

• Rupert Murdoch (inaugural oration) 

• Nobel Prize-winning Laureate Professor Peter Doherty 

• Olympic sportsman and politician Lord Sebastian Coe 

• Humanitarian and co-founder of the Oaktree Foundation and Global Poverty Project, Hugh Evans 

• Former Prime Minister, the Honourable Paul Keating

• Founder of the Cape York Partnership and Co-Chair of Good to Great Schools Australia Noel Pearson

President of the Library Board of Victoria, John Wylie, said he was delighted Robert Thomson is delivering the oration.

“The proliferation of technology has changed the face of journalism and redefined what constitutes media. Robert Thomson has witnessed this evolution and been instrumental in reshaping News Corporation in the digital age. We are delighted to welcome Robert to the State Library to share his insights into the important and topical issue of truth, trust and technology,” said Mr Wylie. 

About Robert Thomson 

Robert Thomson has been Chief Executive of News Corporation since 2013. Prior to this he was editor-in-chief of Dow Jones & Company and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal, which grew to become the largest circulating paper in the US under his direction. With a career that has spanned continents, Thomson was editor at The Times of London, the US Financial Times and the UK Weekend Financial Times as well as a correspondent in Tokyo and Beijing. Now based in New York, Thomson was born in regional South Australia and began his career at The Herald in Melbourne. He is also a published author. 

About the Keith Murdoch Oration

Established in 2001, the Keith Murdoch Oration honours the contribution of State Library Victoria Trustee and President Sir Keith Murdoch. The 2001 inaugural lecture was given by Rupert Murdoch and past speakers have included Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, former Prime Minister, the Honourable Paul Keating, activist Noel Pearson, and Lachlan Murdoch.